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United States Patent |
5,110,430
|
Eerkens
|
*
May 5, 1992
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High mass isotope separation arrangement
Abstract
An isotope separation arrangement for separating a preselected isotope from
a mixture of chemically identical but isotopically different molecules by
either photon-induced pure rovibrational or vibronic selective excitation
of the molecules containing the atoms of the isotope to be separated from
a lower to a higher energy level, and a chemical reaction of the higher
energy level molecules with a chemically reactive agent to form a chemical
compound containing primarily the atoms of isotope to be separated in a
physicochemical state different from the physicochemical state of the
mixture of chemically identical but isotopically different molecules. The
chemical compound containing the atoms of the isotope to be separated may
be subsequently processed to obtain the isotope.
Inventors:
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Eerkens; Jozef W. (Pacific Palisades, CA)
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Assignee:
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Cameco Corporation (Trustee) (Saskatoon, CA)
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[*] Notice: |
The portion of the term of this patent subsequent to June 4, 2005
has been disclaimed. |
Appl. No.:
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276848 |
Filed:
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November 28, 1988 |
Current U.S. Class: |
204/157.2; 204/157.21; 204/157.22; 422/186 |
Intern'l Class: |
B01D 005/00; B01J 019/08 |
Field of Search: |
204/157.22,157.2,157.21
250/423 P
422/186.3,186
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
3673406 | Jun., 1972 | Nief et al. | 250/527.
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Foreign Patent Documents |
1959767 | Jun., 1971 | DE.
| |
Other References
H. London, Isotope Separation, Newnes Publ., London 1961, pp. 431-436.
Mayer, S. W., et al. Isotope Separation with the cw Hydrogen Fluoride
Laser, Applied Physic Letters, Dec. 1970, pp. 516-519.
|
Primary Examiner: Hunt; Brooks H.
Assistant Examiner: Mai; Ngoclan T.
Parent Case Text
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This Application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
262,661 filed June 14, 1972, U.S. Pat. No. 5,015,348.
Claims
I claim:
1. In a process for separating predetermined isotopic molecules from a
mixture of chemically identical but isotopically different molecules to
obtain a concentration of the predetermined isotope wherein the molecules
comprising the mixture having a preselected lower rovibrational energy
state and a higher rovibrational energy state with photon-inducible
transitions between the lower rovibrational energy state and the higher
rovibrational energy state and the photon frequency for the
photon-inducible transitions between the lower and higher rovibrational
energy states of the predetermined isotopic molecules is different from
the photon frequency for the photon-inducible transitions between the
lower and higher rovibrational energy states of the other chemically
identical but isotopically different molecules in the mixture, the
improvement comprising the steps of:
supplying the mixture of chemically identical but isotopically different
molecules into a reaction chamber at the lower rovibrational energy state,
and in a first preselected physicochemical state; and
maintaining the temperature and pressure of the chemically identical but
isotopically different molecules at a first preselected temperature and
first preselected pressure in the reaction chamber and the value of the
first preselected pressure is selected so that the rotational line width
of at least one rotational line does not exceed the rotational line
spacing in the frequency range of the at least one rotational line in the
vibrational absorption band;
supplying a chemically reactive agent into the reaction chamber and the
chemically reactive agent chemically combinable with the molecules at the
higher rovibrational energy state to produce a chemical compound having
atoms of the predetermined isotope in a second physicochemical state
different from the first physicochemical state, and the chemically
reactive agent unreactive with the molecules at the lower rovibrational
energy state;
selectively photon inducing the transitions of the predetermined isotopic
molecules from the lower rovibrational energy state to the higher
rovibrational energy state to cause a chemical combination with the
chemically reactive agent to provide a chemical compound produced having
atoms of the predetermined isotope; and
removing the chemical compound from the reaction chamber.
2. The process defined in claim 1 wherein the step of selectively photon
inducing the transitions of the predetermined isotopic molecules further
comprises the steps of:
generating a beam of photons having energy at the frequency corresponding
to the transitions of the predetermined isotopic molecules from the lower
rovibrational energy state to the higher rovibrational energy state and
substantially free of photons having energy at the frequency corresponding
to the transitions of the other chemically identical but isotopically
different molecules in the mixture from the lower rovibrational energy
state to the higher rovibrational energy state; and
subjecting the contents of the reaction chamber to the beam of photons to
induce the transitions of the predetermined isotopic molecules from the
lower rovibrational energy state to the higher rovibrational energy state.
3. The process defined in claim 1 wherein the step of selectively photon
inducing the transitions of the predetermined isotopic molecules further
comprises the steps of:
generating a beam of coherent photons having energy in the frequencies
corresponding to the transitions of the molecules in the mixture from the
lower rovibrational energy state to the higher rovibrational state;
filtering the beam of coherent photons to remove photons having energy at
frequencies other than the frequencies corresponding to the transitions of
the predetermined isotopic molecules from the lower rovibrational energy
state to the higher rovibrational energy state; and
subjecting the contents of the reaction chamber to the filtered beam of
coherent photons to induce the transitions of the predetermined isotopic
molecules from the lower rovibrational energy state to the higher
rovibrational energy state.
4. The process defined in claim 3 further comprising the step of:
the first preselected temperature is on the order of 300.degree. K and the
first preselected pressure is on the order of 0.01 atmospheres; and
wherein the step of filtering the beam of coherent photons further
comprises the steps of:
passing the beam of coherent photons through a filter cell containing a
collection of the other chemically identical but isotopically different
molecules contained in the mixture in the reaction chamber, and the
collection of molecules in the filter cell substantially free of the
predetermined isotopic molecules; and
maintaining the collection of the molecules in the filter cell at a second
predetermined temperature and a second predetermined pressure to provide
molecules in the filter cell at the lower rovibrational energy state.
5. The process defined in claim 4 wherein:
the mixture of chemically identical but isotopically different molecules is
continuously supplied to the reaction the chemically reactive agent is
continuously supplied to the reaction chamber;
the chemical compound is continuously removed from the reaction chamber;
and
the contents of the reaction chamber is continuously subjected to the
filtered beam of coherent photons.
6. The process defined in claim 5 wherein: the first predetermined
temperature and first predetermined pressure are different from the second
predetermined temperature and second predetermined pressure.
7. The process defined in claim 6 wherein:
the mixture of chemically identical but isotopically different molecules in
the reaction chamber is UF.sub.6 containing a mixture of U.sup.238 F.sub.6
and U.sup.235 F.sub.6 molecules, and the predetermined isotope molecules
comprise the U.sup.235 F.sub.6 molecules and the predetermined isotope
comprises U.sup.235 ;
the filter cell contains substantially pure U.sup.238 F.sub.6 molecules;
the chemically reactive agent is hydrogen;
the first physicochemical state is the gaseous state;
the second physicochemical state is the solid state;
the chemical compound in the solid state is U.sup.235 F.sub.4 ;
the second predetermined temperature is on the order of 290.degree. K and
the second predetermined pressure is on the order of 0.005 atmospheres.
8. The process defined in claim 4 wherein:
the mixture of chemically identical but isotopically different molecules
contains molecules having U.sup.235 atoms and other molecules having
U.sup.238 atoms and the molecules containing the U.sup.235 atoms are the
predetermined molecules and U.sup.235 is the predetermined isotope, and
the mixture is selected from the class consisting of:
UF.sub.6, UI.sub.4, UI.sub.3 F, UI.sub.2 F.sub.2, UIF.sub.3, UAs, U.sub.2
As, UAs.sub.2, UBi, UAl.sub.2, UMn.sub.2, UP, U.sub.2 P and UP.sub.2.
9. The process defined in claim 7 wherein the step of generating a beam of
coherent photons comprises the step of operating a laser, and the laser is
selected from the class consisting of:
CO.sub.2 laser, OCS laser, H.sub.2 O laser, HF laser, and UF.sub.6 laser.
10. The process defined in claim 9 wherein the step of operating the laser
further comprises the step of:
continuously operating the laser.
11. The process defined in claim 9 wherein the step of operating the laser
further comprises the step of:
pulsing the laser.
12. In a process for separating U.sup.235 F.sub.6 molecules from a mixture
of U.sup.235 F.sub.6 molecules and U.sup.238 F.sub.6 molecules to obtain a
concentration of the U.sup.235 isotope wherein the U.sup.235 F.sub.6
molecules and the U.sup.238 F.sub.6 molecules comprising the mixture have
a lower rovibrational energy state and a higher rovibrational energy state
with photon-inducible transitions between the lower rovibrational energy
state and the higher rovibrational energy state and the photon frequency
for the photon-inducible transitions between the lower rovibrational
energy state and the higher rovibrational energy state of the U.sup.235
F.sub.6 molecules is different from the photon frequency for the
photon-inducible transitions between the lower rovibrational energy state
and the higher rovibrational energy state of the U.sup.238 F.sub.6
molecules, the improvement comprising the steps of:
maintaining the mixture of U.sup.235 F.sub.6 molecules and U.sup.238
F.sub.6 molecules in a reaction chamber at a first preselected temperature
on the order of 300.degree. K and a first preselected pressure on the
order of 0.01 atmospheres; and
selectively reacting U.sup.235 F.sub.6 molecules in the gaseous state in
the reaction chamber at the higher rovibrational energy state with gaseous
hydrogen to produce solid U.sup.235 F.sub.4.
13. An isotope separation arrangement for separating predetermined isotopic
molecules from a mixture of chemically identical but isotopically
different molecules to obtain a concentration of the predetermined isotope
comprising, in combination:
a reaction chamber having walls defining a cavity;
means for supplying a mixture into said cavity of said reaction chamber of
the chemically identical but isotopically different molecules and said
mixture containing the predetermined isotopic molecules having atoms of
the predetermined isotope to be separated, and molecules containing atoms
of other isotopes, and said mixture at a first preselected physicochemical
state, a first predetermined pressure having a value so that the
rotational line width of at least one rotational line does not exceed the
rotational line spacing in the frequency range of the at least one
rotational line in the vibrational absorption band, and a first
predetermined temperature, and said molecules of said mixture having a
lower rovibrational energy state and a higher rovibrational energy state,
and photon-inducible transitions between said lower rovibrational energy
state and said higher rovibrational energy state at predetermined photon
frequencies, and said predetermined photon frequencies corresponding to
said photon-inducible transitions of said molecules containing the isotope
to be separated different at at least said at least one rotational line
from said predetermined photon frequencies corresponding to said
photon-inducible transitions of said chemically identical but isotopically
different molecules containing atoms other than said predetermined
isotope;
means for supplying a chemically reactive agent into said reaction chamber,
and said chemically reactive agent inactive with said molecules of said
mixture for said molecules at said first preselected temperature and said
first preselected pressure, and at said lower rovibrational energy state,
and reactive with said molecules of said mixture for said molecules at
said higher rovibrational energy state;
means for irradiating said mixture with photons having energy at said
predetermined photon frequency corresponding to said photon-inducible
transitions of said molecules containing said atoms of said isotope to be
separated to induce the chemical reaction with said chemically reactive
agent at said higher rovibrational energy state to provide a chemical
reaction compound containing atoms of said predetermined isotope to be
separated at a second preselected physicochemical state different from
said first preselected physicochemical state; and
means for selectively removing said chemical reaction compound from said
reaction chamber.
14. The arrangement defined in claim 13 wherein said means for irradiating
said mixture of chemically identical but isotopically different molecules
further comprises:
means for generating a beam of coherent photons having energy in
frequencies corresponding to said photon-inducible transitions of said
molecules in said mixture of chemically identical but isotopically
different molecules; and
filter cell means for filtering said beam of coherent photons to remove
therefrom photons having energy at frequencies corresponding to said
photon-inducible transitions of said molecules in said mixture other than
said molecules containing atoms of the predetermined isotope to be
separated.
15. The arrangement defined in claim 14 wherein said filter cell further
comprises:
a body member having walls defining a filter cell cavity; and
a filter mixture in said filter cell cavity of said chemically identical
but said isotopically different molecules of the type contained in said
reaction chamber and said filter mixture substantially free of molecules
containing atoms of said predetermined isotope to be separated, and said
filter mixture at a second predetermined temperature and a second
predetermined pressure, and at said lower rovibrational energy state and
at said first preselected physicochemical state.
16. The arrangement defined in claim 15 wherein said means for generating a
beam of coherent photons comprises a tunable laser and said filter cell is
external to said laser.
17. The arrangement defined in claim 15 wherein said means for generating a
coherent beam of photons comprises a tunable laser and said filter cell is
positioned in said laser.
18. The arrangement defined in claim 15 wherein:
said mixture of chemically identical but isotopically different molecules
in said reaction chamber comprises a first portion having atoms of
U.sup.235 bearing molecules and a second portion having atoms of U.sup.238
bearing molecules and U.sup.235 comprises the predetermined isotope to be
separated.
19. The arrangement defined in claim 18 wherein said means for generating a
beam of coherent photons comprises a CO.sub.2 laser;
said mixture of chemically identical but isotopically different molecules
in said reaction chamber comprises UF.sub.6 ;
said filter mixture in said filter cell cavity comprises substantially pure
U.sup.238 F.sub.6 molecules and is substantially free of U.sup.235 F.sub.6
molecules;
said first preselected physicochemical state is said second preselected
physicochemical state is solid; and
said chemical reaction compound is U.sup.235 F.sub.4.
20. In a process for separating predetermined isotopic molecules from a
mixture of chemically identical but isotopically different molecules, to
obtain a concentration of the predetermined isotope wherein the molecules
comprising the mixture have a lower vibronic energy state and a higher
vibronic energy state with photon-inducible transitions between the lower
vibronic energy state and the higher vibronic energy state, and the photon
frequency for the photon-inducible transitions between the lower vibronic
energy state and the higher vibronic energy state of the predetermined
isotopic molecules is different from the photon frequency for the
photon-inducible transitions between the lower vibronic energy state and
the higher vibronic energy state of the other chemically identical but
isotopically different molecules in the mixture, the improvement
comprising the step of:
maintaining the mixture of chemically identical but isotopically different
molecules in a reaction chamber at a first preselected pressure and first
preselected temperature so that the rotational line width of at least one
rotational line in the lower vibronic energy state does not exceed the
rotational line spacing in the frequency range of the at least one
rotational line in the vibronic absorption band;
selectively reacting the predetermined isotopic molecules in a first
physicochemical state and at the higher vibronic energy state with a
chemically reactive agent to provide a chemical compound at a second
physicochemical state different from the first physicochemical state and
containing atoms of the predetermined isotope; and
supplying an excess of the chemically reactive agent to the reaction
chamber.
21. In a process for separating predetermined isotopic molecules from a
mixture of chemically identical but isotopically different molecules to
obtain a concentration of the predetermined isotope wherein the molecules
comprising the mixture having a preselected lower vibronic energy state
and a higher vibronic energy state with photon-inducible transitions
between the lower vibronic energy state and the higher vibronic energy
state and the photon frequency for the photon-inducible transitions
between the lower and higher vibronic energy states of the predetermined
isotopic molecules is different from the photon frequency for the
photon-inducible transitions between the lower and higher vibronic energy
states of the other chemically identical but isotopically different
molecules in the mixture, the improvement comprising the steps of:
supplying the mixture of chemically identical but isotopically different
molecules into a reaction chamber at the lower vibronic energy state, and
in a first preselected physicochemical state and at a first preselected
pressure and first preselected temperature, and the first preselected
pressure selected so that the rotational line width of at least one
rotational line in the lower vibronic energy state does not exceed the
rotational line spacing in the frequency range of the at least one
rotational line in the vibronic absorption band;
supplying an excess of chemically reactive agent into the reaction chamber
and the chemically reactive agent chemically combinable with the molecules
at the higher vibronic energy state to produce a chemical compound having
atoms of the predetermined isotope in a second physicochemical state
different from the first physicochemical state, and the chemically
reactive agent unreactive with the molecules at the lower vibronic energy
state;
selectively photon inducing the transitions of the predetermined isotopic
molecules from the lower vibronic energy state to the higher vibronic
energy state to cause a chemical combination with the chemically reactive
agent to provide a chemical compound produced having atoms of the
predetermined isotope; and
removing the chemical compound from the reaction chamber.
22. The process defined in claim 21 wherein the step of selectively photon
inducing the transitions of the predetermined isotopic molecules further
comprises the steps of:
generating a beam of photons having energy at the frequency corresponding
to the transitions of the predetermined isotopic molecules from the lower
vibronic energy state to the higher vibronic energy state and
substantially free of photons having energy at the frequency corresponding
to the transitions of the other chemically identical but isotopically
different molecules in the mixture from the lower vibronic energy state to
the higher vibronic energy state; and
subjecting the contents of the reaction chamber to the beam of photons to
induce the transitions of the predetermined isotopic molecules from the
lower vibronic energy state to the higher vibronic energy state.
23. The process defined in claim 21 wherein the step of selectively photon
inducing the transitions of the predetermined isotopic molecules further
comprises the steps of:
generating a beam of coherent photons having energy in the frequencies
corresponding to the transitions of the molecules in the mixture from the
lower vibronic energy state to the higher vibronic state;
filtering the beam of coherent photons to remove photons having energy at
frequencies other than the frequencies corresponding to the transitions of
the predetermined isotopic molecules from the lower vibronic energy state
to the higher vibronic energy state; and
subjecting the contents of the reaction chamber to the filtered beam of
coherent photons to induce the transitions of the predetermined isotopic
molecules from the lower vibronic energy state to the higher vibronic
energy state.
24. The process defined in claim 23
wherein the step of filtering the beam of coherent photons further
comprises the steps of:
passing the beam of coherent photons through a filter cell containing a
collection of the other chemically identical but isotopically different
molecules contained in the mixture in the reaction chamber, and the
collection of molecules in the filter cell substantially free of the
predetermined isotopic molecules; and
maintaining the collection of the molecules in the filter cell at a second
predetermined temperature and a second predetermined pressure to provide
molecules in the filter cell at the lower vibronic energy state.
25. An isotope separation arrangement for separating predetermined isotopic
molecules from a mixture of chemically identical but isotopically
different molecules to obtain a concentration of the predetermined isotope
comprising, in combination:
a reaction chamber having walls defining a cavity;
means for supplying a mixture into said cavity of said reaction chamber of
the chemically identical but isotopically different molecules and said
mixture containing the predetermined isotopic molecules having atoms of
the predetermined isotope to be separated, and molecules containing atoms
of other isotopes, and said mixture at a first preselected physicochemical
state, a first predetermined pressure having a value so that the
rotational line width of at least one rotational line does not exceed the
rotational line spacing in the frequency range of the at least one
rotational line in the vibrational absorption band, and a first
predetermined temperature, and said molecules of said mixture having a
lower vibronic energy state and a higher vibronic energy state, and
photon-inducible transitions between said lower vibronic energy state and
said higher vibronic energy state at predetermined photon frequencies, and
said predetermined photon frequencies corresponding to said
photon-inducible transitions of said molecules containing the isotope to
be separated different at at least said at least one rotational line from
said predetermined photon frequencies corresponding to said
photon-inducible transitions of said chemically identical but isotopically
different molecules containing atoms other than said predetermined
isotope;
means for supplying a chemically reactive agent into said reaction chamber,
and said chemically reactive agent inactive with said molecules of said
mixture for said molecules at said first predetermined temperature and
said first preselected pressure, and at said lower vibronic energy state,
and reactive with said molecules of said mixture for said molecules at
said higher vibronic energy state;
means for irradiating said mixture with photons having energy at said
predetermined photon frequency corresponding to said photon-inducing
transitions of said molecules containing said atoms of said isotope to be
separated to induce the chemical reaction with said chemically reactive
agent at said higher vibronic energy state to provide a chemical reaction
compound containing atoms of said predetermined isotope to be separated at
a second preselected physicochemical state different from said first
preselected physicochemical state; and
means for selectively removing said chemical reaction compound from said
reaction chamber.
26. The arrangement defined in claim 25 wherein said means for irradiating
said mixture of chemically identical but isotopically different molecules
further comprises:
means for generating a beam of coherent photons having energy in
frequencies corresponding to said photon-inducible transitions of said
molecules in said mixture of chemically identical but isotopically
different molecules; and
filter cell means for filtering said beam of coherent photons to remove
therefrom photons having energy at frequencies corresponding to said
photon-inducible transitions of said molecules in said mixture other than
said molecules containing atoms of the predetermined isotope to be
separated.
27. The arrangement defined in claim 26 wherein said filter cell further
comprises:
a body member having walls defining a filter cell cavity; and
a filter mixture in said filter cell cavity of said chemically identical
but said isotopically different molecules of the type contained in said
reaction chamber and said filter mixture free of molecules containing
atoms of said predetermined isotope to be separated, and said filter
mixture at a second predetermined temperature and a second predetermined
pressure, and at said lower vibronic energy state and at said first
preselected physicochemical state.
28. The arrangement defined in claim 27 wherein said means for generating a
beam of coherent photons comprises a tunable laser and said filter cell is
external to said laser.
29. The arrangement defined in claim 27 wherein said means for generating a
coherent beam of photons comprises a tunable laser and said filter cell is
positioned in said laser.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the isotope separation art and, more
particularly, to a selectively photon induced energy level transition of
an isotopic molecule containing the isotope to be separated and a chemical
reaction with a chemically reactive agent to provide a chemical compound
containing atoms of the isotope desired.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In many applications, it is often desired to provide an isotopically
concentrated element. That is, many elements exist in nature in several
different isotopes and it is desired to isolate a single isotope to
provide a substantially higher concentrate of the isotope than occurs
naturally. One such application, of course, is providing a high
concentration of the isotope U.sup.235. U.sup.235 constitutes only 0.7% of
naturally occuring uranium. The balance of the uranium, 99.3%, is
U.sup.238.
Many different techniques have been proposed and/or utilized to provide the
separation of the isotope U.sup.235 from naturally occurring uranium.
Among these techniques have been gaseous diffusion through porous barrier
materials, electromagnetic separation, centrifuging, thermal diffusion,
chemical exchange and, more recently, ultra-centrifuge and jet nozzle
techniques. Of these, the most widely used technique is the gaseous
diffusion technique which, unfortunately, is relatively inefficient,
comparatively expensive and requires multiple passes of gaseous uranium
through the barrier materials to obtain a high concentration of the
U.sup.235.
Other isotopic separation techniques have been utilized for elements which
have a low boiling point. For example, there has heretofore been proposed,
in U.S. Pat. No. 2,713,025, an isotope separation technique applicable to
mercury wherein a mercury vapor lamp, containing isotopically pure
mercury, is utilized to irradiate a low-temperature vapor of naturally
occurring mercury. The photons from the isotopically pure mercury vapor
lamp excite only the same isotope atoms in the mercury vapor and cause
photon-induced transitions between energy states thereof. At an excited
energy state the mercury combines with water to form mercuric oxide. Since
the photons were emitted from a single isotope of the mercury, only the
same corresponding isotope in the mercury vapor was excited and thus
isotopically pure mercury could be obtained from subsequent processing of
the mercuric oxide. This technique, while applicable to some low
boiling-point elements, cannot be readily adapted to the higher
boiling-point isotopes such as uranium. The reason is that to provide a
vapor of uranium would require comparatively high temperatures. Such high
temperatures would result in considerable Doppler broadening of the
absorption/emission lines of the uranium atoms such absorption/emission
lines of the U.sup.238 atoms substantially overlap the U.sup.235 atoms,
thus providing no difference in the absorption lines to allow selective
excitation of the U.sup.235 by this technique.
Another technique heretofore proposed involving photon-induced transitions,
as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,405,045, involves the irradiation of
organic monomers with coherent radiation from a laser to effect a
photo-disassociation of the monomer into free radicals. The free radicals
then are utilized to initiate a polymer chain reaction, thus effecting the
desired polymerization. Such teaching does not appear to be generally
applicable to isotope separation.
Another technique, specifically designed for isotope separation of uranium
hexafluoride (UF.sub.6) to obtain, ultimately, isotopically concentrated
U.sup.235 F.sub.6, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,443,087, involves
irradiating a moving stream of UF.sub.6 with two separate beams of
electromagnetic radiation. The first beam of electromagnetic radiation
raises the internal energy of only the U.sup.235 F.sub.6 from the ground
energy state to a higher, excited energy state. The second beam of
electromagnetic radiation acts only upon the excited-state U.sup.235
F.sub.6 molecules and raises them past the ionization potential to provide
ionized molecules of U.sup.235 F.sub.6. A magnetic field and/or an
electric field are then applied to the ionized U.sup.235 F.sub.6 molecules
to deflect them from the path of the unexcited U.sup.238 F.sub.6 molecules
in an attempt to effect the separation. However, while the utilization of
lasers to provide the photons has been suggested, no technique for
selectively providing the photons in the first beam of electromagnetic
radiation only with energies corresponding to the U.sup.235 F.sub.6
transitions, and not also to the U.sup.238 F.sub.6 transitions was
actually proposed. Further, the partial utilization of electronic-excited
and/or ionized states limits reaction times, since the decay time for
electronic-excited and ionized states is quite short. Finally, and most
importantly, there is considerable overlap of spectral lines of U.sup.235
F.sub.6 and U.sup.238 F.sub.6 under practical operating conditions that
allow significant ionization and/or electronic excitation in gaseous
UF.sub.6 thereby rendering this isotope separation process rather
inefficient.
In another isotope separation technique utilizing a hydrogen fluoride
laser, as disclosed in "Isotope Separation with the CW Hydrogen Fluoride
Laser", Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 17, No. 12, Dec. 15, 1970,
separation of low mass molecules to effect a separation of deuterium from
hydrogen is proposed. This technique involves the irradiation of a gas
combination of methanol H.sub.3 COH, deutero-methanol D.sub.3 COD, and
bromine Br.sub.2. The methanol is intended to be selectively reacted with
the bromine, leaving the deutero-methanol in the gas phase. Deuterium is,
of course, the desired isotope to be concentrated. Thus, the methanol
absorbs the radiation from the hydrogen fluoride laser and reacts with the
bromine. No filtering or fine tuning of the laser radiation is utilized
since the absorption lines of the methanol H.sub.3 COH and the
deutero-methanol D.sub.3 COD are very widely separated. High mass
isotopes, on the other hand, have very closely spaced absorption lines
that are virtually optically unresolvable except at very low temperatures
and/or pressures. Consequently, direct unfiltered and/or untuned
utilization of laser radiation to effect isotopic separation in high mass
molecules is not practical.
Thus, there has not heretofore been provided a completely satisfactory and
economical photochemical technique for separating heavy isotopes and, in
particular, for the isotopic separation of desired U.sup.235 isotope from
naturally occurring uranium.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an
improved isotope separation technique.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved
isotope separation technique that is particularly useful in the separation
of high mass isotopes.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved
isotope separation technique for separating U.sup.235 isotope from
naturally occurring uranium that is comparatively economic in operation
and provides a high yield of concentrated U.sup.235 isotope.
In the following summary of the invention, and the detailed description
presented of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, there has
been utilized the application the present invention to the separation of
U.sup.235 from a mixture of molecules, some containing U.sup.235 atoms and
some containing U.sup.238 atoms It will be appreciated that the separation
technique of the present invention may equally well be utilized with other
elements to provide isotopic separation. However, because of the
importance of U.sup.235 as a major supplier of energy and the necessity of
obtaining a higher concentration of U.sup.235 than in normally occurring
uranium the principles of the present invention are best exemplified by
utilizing, as an example, the separation of the isotope U.sup.235.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided
both a process and the apparatus for selectively separating a
predetermined isotopic molecule from a collection of chemically identical
but isotopically different molecules. For example, a mixture of gaseous
UF.sub.6 containing U.sup.235 F.sub.6 and U.sup.238 F.sub.6 molecules is
contained within a reaction chamber. A chemically reactive agent which,
for utilization in separating U.sup.235 according to the principles of the
present invention, may be gaseous hydrogen, is also introduced into the
reaction chamber. The mixture of the chemically reactive agent may be
either continuously supplied and removed from the reaction chamber or it
may be charged and discharged as in a batch process.
The mixture of molecules in the reaction chamber is maintained at
preselected values of temperature, pressure, electric field, magnetic
field, and whatever other conditioning parameters can be used to effect
the original total energy state of the molecules. The initial state of a
molecule may be termed the lower energy state. The molecules are capable
of storing additional energy internally in discrete amounts by the three
mechanisms of electronic excitation, vibrational excitation, and
rotational excitation, in any combination. Any of these energy states
requiring additional energy is referred to as a higher energy state, and
if a particular one is considered it is called the upper energy state. For
example, when utilizing UF.sub.6, the preselected conditions may be chosen
so that the lower internal energy state of the UF.sub.6 molecules
comprises the ground (lowest possible) electronic energy level, the ground
(lowest possible) vibrational energy level, and a certain distribution of
rotational energy levels determined by the temperature, while the upper
energy state might comprise the ground electronic level, a particular
combination of vibrational energy levels, and the same distribution of
rotational levels as in the lower state.
The chemically reactive agent, such as the hydrogen, is virtually inactive
with the molecules at the lower energy state, but is chemically reactive
with the molecules when they are at higher energy states above a certain
"activation" energy state. When the chemically reactive agent reacts with
the molecules at the higher energy state, a chemical compound is produced
and the chemical compound is in a second physicochemical state different
from the first physicochemical state at which the mixture is maintained.
For example, the UF.sub.6 may be maintained in a gaseous state at the
ground energy level and the reaction with hydrogen of the UF.sub.6
molecules that are excited to the upper energy level, provides UF.sub.4 as
one of the reaction products. UF.sub.4 is in the solid physical state and
will precipitate out of a gaseous UF.sub.6 /hydrogen mixture and can thus
be separated physically. If the chemical compound produced is in the same
physical state as the original mixture, separation may be effected by
standard chemicals separation techniques such as solvent extraction,
distillation, evaporation, and others. Thus, a change in the
physicochemical state may be a change in the physical state, a change in
the chemical state, or both.
In order to effect the selective reaction between just the predetermined
isotopic molecules containing the isotope that is to be separated with the
chemically reactive agent, it is necessary to induce the transition of
only the predetermined isotopic molecules from the lower energy state to
the higher energy state. The selective isotopic excitation is achieved by
subjecting the contents of the reaction chamber to a beam of photons
having energy at a frequency corresponding to a particular transition
between the lower energy state and a particular higher energy state of
only the predetermined isotopic molecule. The beam of photons is free of
photons having energy at frequencies corresponding to the transition from
the lower energy to the higher energy state of the other isotopically
different but chemically identical molecules contained within the reaction
chamber. Therefore, only the predetermined isotopic molecules are
selectively excited. At the excited state, the predetermined isotopic
molecules can react with the chemically reactive agent to provide the
chemical compound. By providing an excess of chemical reactive agent, a
majority of the predetermined excited molecules may be made to experience
such reactions before losing their excitation energy by possible exchange
collisions to molecules containing the other isotope. Since only the
predetermined isotopic molecules are excited by photons and a majority of
them react before a kinetic collision with energy exchange can occur, the
chemical compound contains a preponderance of atoms of the predetermined
isotope. If the chemical compound is at a different physical state than
the molecules of the mixture, the chemical compound may be physically
removed from the reaction chamber as, for example, in the case that a
solid precipitate is formed in a gaseous mixture. The precipitate may then
be further processed, by conventional means, to provide the concentrated
predetermined isotope. If the new chemical compound is in the same
physical state as the original mixture (e.g. both are gaseous), final
separation may be accomplished by solvent extraction, distillation,
condensation/evaporation, or other standard chemicals separation methods.
The beam of photons may be provided by a laser which is internally or
externally filtered to suppress or remove photons with undesirable
frequencies. Thus, a laser is selected whose output contains photons in
the general frequency range associated with a particular photon-active
transition of the molecules of the mixture from the original lower energy
state to a particular upper energy state. Because of the phenomenon known
as the isotope shift, the precise frequencies associated with the
photon-inducible transitions between the lower energy state and the upper
energy state are slightly different for the different isotopes and for the
molecules containing the different isotopes.
Filtering of the laser output is achieved by passing the laser photons
internally or externally through a filter cell, where by internal is meant
placement of the filter cell internal to the laser between the end mirrors
of the resonator system, and by external is meant that the filter cell is
placed outside the laser in the path of the laser output beam. The filter
cell contains a collection of the isotopic molecules contained in the
reaction chamber other than the predetermined isotopic molecules and is,
of course, provided with windows which allow the passage of the laser
photon beam through the cell. For example, with the reaction chamber
containing U.sup.235 F.sub.6 molecules and U.sup.238 F.sub.6 molecules,
the filter cell contains substantially pure U.sup.238 F.sub.6 molecules.
Using an infrared laser with the filter cell placed internally, those
photons having energy corresponding to transitions in the U.sup.238
F.sub.6 molecules from the lower to a predetermined upper vibrational
energy level are absorbed and thus prevented to lase, while those photons
having frequencies that are slightly different and which correspond to a
transition in the U.sup.235 F.sub.6 molecules from lower rovibrational
energy level to an upper rovibrational energy level, can pass through the
filter cell and provide the beam of photons necessary to effect the
selective excitation of the U.sup.235 F.sub.6 molecules in the reaction
chamber.
The temperature, pressure, and other conditions of the UF.sub.6 gas in both
the filter cell and in the reaction chamber in this example must be chosen
in such a manner that the rotational lines in a certain selected
rovibrational band are separated, and that in some region of the spectrum
of this rovibrational absorption band, the rotational lines of U.sup.235
F.sub.6 do not significantly overlap with the rotational lines of
U.sup.238 F.sub.6 and fall between the rotational lines of U.sup.238
F.sub.6. The laser photon frequency is fine-tuned by the laser resonator
system to fall in the middle of one or more of the rotational lines of
U.sup.235 F.sub.6 in this region. The laser fine-tuning may be
accomplished for example, by having a variable spacing between the laser
resonator end mirrors, and by making small adjustments in the spacing.
Changes in the mirror spacing produces changes in the exact photon
frequency of the laser output.
The collection of molecules in the filter cell are usually maintained at or
near the same lower energy state as those present in the reaction chamber.
In one embodiment of the invention the filter cell is placed between the
laser resonator end mirrors and a high overall efficiency of operation is
usually achieved since the filter cell suppresses the generation of laser
photons having undesirable frequencies and only promotes the generation of
laser photons of the desired frequency in the laser cavity. In another
embodiment of the present invention, in which the filter cell is placed
external to the laser end mirrors and the entire laser output is filtered
therethrough, that portion of the laser output energy which is carried by
laser photons with undesirable frequencies is removed and lost. In spite
of the lower overall efficiency of the external filter cell arrangement in
comparison with the internal filter cell placement, the former may be
preferred sometimes since it provides more independence between laser
operation and filter-cell operation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above and other embodiments of the present invention may be more fully
understood from the following description and the accompanying drawings
wherein similar reference characters refer to similar elements throughout
and in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 3 is a graphical representation of some physical characteristics
associated with the present invention;
FIG. 4 is another graphical representation of some physical characteristics
associated with the present invention and,
FIG. 5 is a graphical representation of physical characteristics associated
with another embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Before providing a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the
present invention, there is presented a brief discussion of the physical
processes associated with the practice of the present invention in order
to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the techniques associated
with the practice of the present invention so that those skilled in the
art may be more fully apprised thereof.
In a gaseous molecule there exist three main types of
internal-energy-storing mechanisms, each one of which can acquire or
discharge certain discrete quantities of energy. These are: the
electronic, the vibrational, and the rotational internal-energy-storage
mechanisms. Each of these types of energy-storing mechanisms possess
certain discrete energy levels, and energy can be added or subtracted from
storage, in quantities corresponding to differences between these energy
levels, by either energy transfer during the collision with another
molecule, or by the absorption or emission of a photon.
The quantities of energy exchanged (so-called quanta) in transitions
between electronic levels are usually an order of magnitude larger than
the quanta produced in transitions between vibrational levels, while
quanta exchanged in rotational transitions have again energies that are an
order of magnitude smaller than those of the vibrational transitions. In
transitions involving the absorption or emission of photons, the
wavelength of the photon associated with an electronic transition lies
generally in the ultraviolet and visible part of the spectrum, the photon
wavelength for vibrational transitions lies in the infrared, while
rotational transitions give rise to photons with wavelengths that lie in
the microwave region.
In general, the more atoms there are in a molecule, the more vibrating
bonds can exist between atoms and groups of atoms, and the larger the
number of so-called normal vibrations. Each normal vibration possesses a
series of discrete energy levels, and in general a transition in the
vibrational state of a molecule can involve simultaneous changes in the
levels of any combination of normal vibrations.
With regard to the energy necessary to effect a transition from one
electronic energy state to another electronic energy state by means of
molecular collisions in which conversion of kinetic to potential energy
occurs, since the energy exchange quanta required are comparatively high,
in most molecules the higher electronic energy states are only achieved at
temperatures approaching plasma temperatures on the order of 3000 degrees
K or higher. Kinetic excitation of the higher vibrational energy levels,
with the electronic state remaining at the ground level, can be achieved
at typical temperatures of 1000 to 2000 degrees K. Finally, at low
temperatures such as room temperature, approximately 300 degrees K, there
can generally be only kinetic excitations and de-excitations involving
transitions between rotational energy levels.
The kinetic excitations, in which during a collision between two molecules
transitional kinetic energy is exchanged and electronic, vibrational, or
rotational energy levels are changed, must be distinguished from molecular
interactions with photons, where upon absorption or emission of a photon,
the rotational energy levels, the vibrational energy levels and/or
electronic energy levels are excited or de-excited. The absorption of a
photon raises the internal energy of a molecule and the emission of a
photon reduces the internal energy.
In photon-molecule interactions, not all possible transitions between lower
and higher rotational, vibrational or electronic energy levels are
allowed. Instead only certain transitions are allowed which are determined
by so-called selection rules. Thus the number of excited rotational,
vibrational or electronic transitions possible in photo-induced processes
are limited to those defined by the selection rules. Further, the
selection rules by defining the allowable transitions also define the
photon energy necessary to achieve a certain transition from a lower to a
higher energy level, either electronic, vibrational, or rotational, or in
some combination. Transitions in which an electronic as well as a
vibrational level are simultaneously changed, are termed vibronic
transitions, while transitions in which the vibrational as well as the
rotational level changes simultaneously, with the electronic level
remaining the same, are termed rovibrational transitions. Rotational
transitions also accompany vibronic transitions, but their effect on the
transition rate is usually small and thus "rovibronic" transitions are
simply called vibronic transitions. By "a vibronic transition" we shall
mean a transition with a certain electronic energy level change and any
one of a number of allowed vibrational (and rotational) level changes. By
"a rovibrational transition", we shall mean a transition with a certain
vibrational energy level change, and any one of a number of allowed
rotational level changes, while the electronic state is unchanged.
Clearly, in considering the energy transitions useful in the practice of
the present invention, consideration must be given not only to the
allowable energy transitions of the molecules but also to the means for
generating the photons having the energies corresponding to the desired
energy transitions.
Typical lifetimes for the spontaneous emission of radiation by molecules in
electronic excited states and ionized states are on the order of 10.sup.-7
to 10.sup.-8 seconds. Hence chemical reactions with molecules in excited
electronic states are difficult to achieve unless reaction times are
faster than 10.sup.-7 to 10.sup.-8 seconds. Radiative lifetimes of
vibrationally excited states on the other hand are in the vicinity of
10.sup.-3 to 10.sup.-4 seconds. Hence sufficient time exists for chemical
reaction which at typical pressures of 10.sup.-2 to 10.sup.-1 atmospheres,
favorable for good rotational line resolution and thus efficient isotope
separation, usually requires 10.sup.-7 to 10.sup.-5 seconds per molecular
reaction. Rotational states have radiative lifetimes usually in the range
between 10 and 10.sup.4 seconds.
The radiative emission spectrum of a vibronic energy transition is
generally a series of bands, where inside of each band there is a
substructure composed of various rotational lines whose spacing and
regularity are determined by the selection rules for radiative
transitions.
The radiative emission spectrum of a rovibrational energy transition is a
single band composed of rotational lines whose spacing and regularity are
determined by the selection rules for radiative transitions.
A vibrational band, whether part of the series of bands in a vibronic
spectrum or a band from a rovibrational spectrum, comprises an envelope
extending over a known region of photon frequencies and within this
envelope there are nearly discrete frequencies also called lines that
correspond to the allowed rotational energy transitions. The rotational
lines are subject to pressure and temperature broadening. That is, as the
temperature of the molecules is raised, the small variation in allowed
frequencies associated with each rotational line increases until there is
a substantial overlap of the lines and there is no longer any spacing
between the lines. This broadening effect on the rotational lines is often
called "temperature broadening". Another effect that causes the line to
broaden occurs when the pressure or density of the molecules is increased.
This is called "pressure-broadening". Therefore, if only certain definite
rotational transitions in a vibrational band are to be induced, and not
several ones of adjacent overlapping lines, it is necessary that the
temperature and pressure of the molecules be kept comparatively low so
that the frequency widths of the rotational lines are small and at least
smaller than the frequency difference between the centers of two
consecutive rotational lines, also called the line spacing.
Another physical feature that is important to the understanding of the
principles of the present invention is the so-called isotope frequency
shift of vibrational energy level transitions. Since the frequency of the
photon associated with certain transitions between vibrational energy
levels depends on the mass of the molecule, the center frequency of the
vibrational bands of two chemically identical but isotopically different
molecules will be slightly different. An isotope shift also exists for
electronic energy level transitions but this shift is much smaller than
the isotope shift associated with the vibrational energy level
transitions.
Because the frequencies of the vibrational bands of two chemically
identical but isotopically different molecules are thus slightly shifted,
the rotational lines of the band of one of the isotopic molecules may fall
between the rotational lines of the band of the other isotopic molecule.
Hence, to effect isotope separation in an isotopic mixture of molecules,
the mixture is irradiated with extremely monochromatic photons of
frequencies that correspond only to one or sometimes a few of the
rotational lines in the rovibrational band of only one of the two isotopic
molecules. Usually only an infrared laser can provide photons of the
monochromaticity necessary to excite only one rotational line in a
rovibrational band, while only an ultraviolet laser can excite one
rotational line of a vibronic band. Hence in the embodiments of the
present invention a laser is employed as the source of photons. However,
any other source yielding such photons may be substituted if available.
Because the vibrational isotope shift is many orders of magnitude larger
than the electronic isotope shift, the employment of molecules and the
vibrational isotope shift in the present invention yields substantially
more efficient isotope separation than if atoms in elemental form were
used and isotope separation was attempted by the electronic isotope shift
as has been heretofore proposed. This is particularly true for
high-boiling-point elements which can form a low-boiling-point molecule.
Also, the higher the mass of the isotopic elements, the more difficult it
is to employ elemental atomic isotope separation with the pure electronic
isotope shift, and the more important molecular isotope separation becomes
which relies on the vibrational isotope shift.
To insure that laser photons used in this invention possess frequencies
that match only the frequency of one or several of the rotational lines of
the isotopic molecule to be excited and subsequently separated, the laser
frequency is tuned by means of a filter cell that is placed internal or
external to the laser resonator system. The filter cell contains molecules
with isotope atoms different from the molecules with the isotope atoms to
be excited and separated. Hence laser photons with frequencies that match
the frequencies of the rotational lines of the molecules in the filter
cell will be suppressed or removed by absorption, allowing only photons
with frequencies between the rotational line frequencies to be generated
or passed on from the laser. Since the molecules with the isotope to be
excited and separated have their rotational lines shifted in frequency to
positions between the rotational lines of the molecules in the filter
cell, the laser photons oil have frequencies that match or nearly match
the frequencies of one or more rotational lines of the isotopic molecule
to be excited and separated. Additional fine-tuning of the laser photon
frequencies to effect coincidence with the peak or peaks of the rotational
line or lines of the isotopic molecule to be excited and separated, may be
achieved by small adjustments in the spacing of the laser resonator end
mirrors.
The vibrational isotope shift may cause the evenly spaced rotational line
frequencies of the rovibration band of one isotopic molecule to coincide
with the evenly spaced rotational line frequencies of the other isotopic
molecule. However, since molecules possess a large number of rovibrational
bands whose isotope shifts are not all exactly the same, it is generally
possible to find one band where the rotational line frequencies of one
isotopic molecule fall substantially between the rotational line
frequencies of the other isotopic molecule. By choosing an infrared laser
whose output frequency is somewhere in this band, the laser frequency may
then be slightly adjusted by filtering and fine-tuning as described.
If the filter cell is placed internal to the laser resonator, that is
between the end mirrors, only those photons are allowed to lase which are
not absorbed by the filter cell, that is photons with the desired
frequency for exciting the desired isotopic molecule. If the filter cell
is placed external to the laser, the laser frequency must be fine-tuned by
mirror spacing adjustments until a maximum of filtered photons passes
through the filter cell. At that point the laser photon frequency or
frequencies are primarily between the frequencies of the rotational lines
in the filter cell and thus coinciding with the rotational line frequency
or frequencies of the desired isotopic molecule to be excited and
separated.
With the above in mind, reference is made to FIG. 1 wherein there is shown
a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the present invention, generally
designed 10. In the embodiment 10, there is provided a reaction chamber
generally designated 12 having walls defining a cavity 14. A window 16 is
provided in the reaction chamber 12 to allow the entrance therein of a
beam of photons 18 having energy in preselected frequencies as discussed
below in greater detail.
A source mixture of chemically identical but isotopically different
molecules 20 is connected to a pump 22 that pumps the chemically identical
but isotopically different molecules into a mixing chamber 24. A source 26
of chemically reactive agent is pumped by pump means 28 into the mixing
chamber 24. As described below in greater detail, the ratio of the amount
of chemically identical but isotopically different molecules to the amount
of chemically reactive agent is selected to provide a proper reaction
therebetween. The contents of the mixing chamber 24 are pumped by pump 30
into the cavity 14 of the reaction chamber 12. It will be appreciated, of
course, that the mixing chamber 24 may be omitted and the chemically
reactive agent and the mixture of chemically identical but isotopically
different molecules may be pumped directly into the cavity 14 of the
reaction chamber.
Removal means 32 is connected to the reaction chamber 12 for selectively
removing a preselected chemical product from the cavity 14 after the
desired chemical reaction has been induced. A pump 34 may be utilized to
remove from the cavity 14 of the reaction chamber 12 the remaining
contents thereof which have not particpated in the desired chemical
reaction.
A means for generating the beam of photons 18, generally designated 36, is
provided and, in preferred embodiments of the invention, it generally
comprises a laser 38 having a pair of end mirrors 40 and 42 utilized to
achieve laser action within a laser cell 44. The laser end mirror 42, in
accordance with laser operational techniques, also has a certain
percentage of transmission such as 1 to 10% transmission to allow the
laser photon beam 18 generated by laser action to exit from the laser 38.
If desired, a frequency doubler 46 may be placed internal to the laser end
mirrors to double the natural laser frequency of the photons. If a
far-infrared laser is used, the frequency doubler may be, for example, a
Cadmium Germanium Arsenide (CdGeAs.sub.2) crystal to provide photons
having energy in the frequencies necessary to accomplish the selective
isotopic separation according to the principles of the present invention.
A pair of mirrors 48 and 50 may be utilized to direct the beam of photons
18 through the window 16 in the reaction chamber 12 and into the cavity 14
thereof. Internal to the cavity 14 there may be provided a pair of
slightly tilted mirrors 52 and 54 which may be positioned as required to
provide the necessary total path length for efficient absorption of the
photons in the beam of photons 18 in the cavity 14 of the reaction chamber
12. Instead of the tilted-mirror pair 52 and 54, any other arrangement of
mirrors and/or reflectors may be utilized to create a long path length for
absorption, if required.
A filter cell 58, which may be considered to be part of the means 36 for
generating the beam of photons 18 has walls 60 defining a filter cavity
62. A filter mixture is contained within the filter cavity 62 and the
filter mixture is selected to remove from the beam of photons generated in
the laser 38 those photons whose frequencies differ from those necessary
in the beam of photons 18 to achieve the selective isotopic separation.
As can be seen from FIG. 1, the filter cell 58 lies between the mirrors 40
and 42 of the laser 38. This arrangement is usually preferred, since ht
directly prevents the generation of laser energy at unwanted frequencies.
Alternatively, the filter cell 58 may be placed external to the mirrors
associated with the laser 38. For example, the filter cell 58 may be
placed external to the mirrors 40 and 42, as shown by the dotted line
position of mirror 42' on FIG. 1., so that the filter cell 58 is not
within the laser resonator system comprising mirrors 40 and 42' and the
laser cell 44. This arrangement allows more independence in operational
control between the laser 38 and the filter cell 58, but may be less
efficient than the internal arrangement, since some laser energy residing
at unwanted frequencies may be removed from the laser beam by absorption
and is subsequently lost. By fine-tuning the laser frequency, this loss
may be minimized however.
Fine tuning of the laser 38 may be provided by having one of the laser end
mirrors, for example mirror 42 or 42' adjustable in directions indicated
by the double-ended arrows 64 or 64', respectively, so that more precise
tuning of the frequency of the photons 18 is provided. The same may be
achieved by moving mirror 40 instead of 42 or 42' in directions indicated
by the double-ended arrow 66.
The above-described structure that is shown schematically in FIG. 1 is
utilized in a process for separating predetermined isotopic molecules from
a mixture of chemically identical but isotopically different molecules in
order to obtain a concentration of the predetermined isotope far greater
than the concentration in the naturally occurring element. For example,
the above structure may be utilized in a process to provide a
concentration of U.sup.235 much greater than the 0.7% U.sup.235 that is
present in naturally occurring uranium.
As an illustrative example, the source of chemically identical but
isotopically different molecules may comprise gaseous UF.sub.6 containing
predetermined isotopic molecules U.sup.235 F.sub.6 and other chemically
identical but isotopically different molecules U.sup.2358 F.sub.6. The
chemically reactive agent in the source of chemically reactive agent 26
may be gaseous hydrogen. The UF.sub.6 and the hydrogen may be mixed in the
mixing chamber 24 in a ratio of, for example, one part UF.sub.6 and nine
parts hydrogen in order to provide an excess of hydrogen so that the
induced chemical reaction, as described below, has a higher probability of
occurring.
The mixture of the UF.sub.6 and hydrogen is pumped into the cavity 14 of
the reaction chamber 12 by the pump 30 and is maintained therein at a
temperature of approximately 300 degrees K and a pressure of approximately
0.01 atmospheres which parameters define the lower energy state of uranium
hexafluoride according to the principles of the present invention.
Selective excitation of the U.sup.235 F.sub.6 molecules is achieved by
photon absorption from the beam of photons 18 causing transitions in the
U.sup.235 F.sub.6 from the lower vibrational energy level to an upper
vibrational energy level.
In order to achieve this selective excitation, that is to provide the
photon induced transitions of only the U.sup.235 F.sub.6 molecules and not
the U.sup.238 F.sub.6 molecules, the filter cell 58 is provided with a
filter gas in the filter cavity 62 comprising substantially pure gaseous
U.sup.238 F.sub.6. The temperature of the filter gas is approximately 290
degrees K and the pressure is approximately 0.005 atmosphere for reasons
described below in greater detail. When photons generated in the laser
cell 44 pass through the U.sup.238 F.sub.6 filter gas, those photons
having frequencies equal to the frequencies associated with photon-induced
transitions between the lower vibrational energy level and upper
vibrational energy level of U.sup.238 F.sub.6 are absorbed, and thus
prevented to lase in the case of an internal filter cell, or removed in
the case of an external filter cell arrangement. Thus, there is provided
in the filtered beam of photons 18, a substantially pure beam of photons
having energy associated with the photon inducible transitions of only the
U.sup.235 F.sub.6. As this beam of photons passes through the cavity 14 of
the reaction chamber 12, only the U.sup.235 F.sub.6 and not the U.sup.238
F.sub.6 molecules will absorb these photons, and the U.sup.235 F.sub.6
molecules are raised from the lower vibrational energy level to the higher
vibrational energy level. At the higher vibrational energy level, the
U.sup.235 F.sub.6 molecules are chemically reactive with the hydrogen gas
and the following reaction takes place.
U.sup.235 F.sub.6 (g)+H.sub.2 (g).fwdarw.U.sup.235 F.sub.4 (s)+2HF(g) (1)
Since the U.sup.235 F.sub.4 is in the solid state, which is physically and
chemically different from the gaseous UF.sub.6 contained within the
reaction chamber 14, it may be removed as a precipitate from the reaction
chamber 12 by the means 32.
The remaining gaseous UF.sub.6, the gaseous hydrogen fluoride (HF), and the
gaseous hydrogen (H.sub.2), may be removed by the pump means 34 for
ultimate recycling and reuse.
Both the U.sup.235 F.sub.4 product removal, as well as removal of the
remaining gaseous mixture of UF.sub.6, HF, and H.sub.2 may be either
carried out in a continuous fashion or batchwise.
FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. Instead of
employing a pair of tilted mirrors 52 and 54 as shown in FIG. 1, the
arrangement in FIG. 2 shows another train of mirrors for the dispersement
of laser photons in the reaction chamber 12, namely mirrors 56, 68 and 70.
Of course many other long absorptive optical paths such as White's
spherical mirrors can be utilized, and the tilted mirror pair of FIG. 1
and the dispersive mirror configuration of FIG. 2 are only illustrative
examples.
Also shown in FIG. 2 is a frequency conversion crystal 72 and source of
idler radiation 74, placed outside of the laser 38', and placed in the
laser beam path between the laser output mirror 42' and an externally
placed filter cell 58'. The frequency conversion crystal 72 and idler pump
radiation source 74 may be used in cases where it is desired to shift the
frequency of a given laser to fall in the frequency range of a
rovibrational or vibronic absorption band of the isotopic molecules to be
separated. The external filter cell 58' serves the same function as the
cell 58 of FIG. 1 and optimum output of desired filter photons may again
be obtained by fine-tuning of the laser 38' by adjustments in the spacing
between the laser end mirrors 40' and 42'. The remaining structure shown
schematically on FIG. 2 may be similar to the corresponding structure
shown in FIG. 1.
Because of the mass difference between two isotopically different but
chemically identical molecules there is an isotope shift of the
rovibrational and vibronic absorption spectra between the two. FIG. 3
illustrates this phenomenon for the rovibrational (.nu..sub.3 +.nu..sub.4
+.nu..sub.6) combination absorption band of U.sup.238 F.sub.6 and
U.sup.235 F.sub.6 whose central frequency is approximately at 960
cm.sup.-1 (=28.80 Teraherz) and therefore close to the frequency of the
CO.sub.2 laser at about 944 cm.sup.-1 (28.32 Teraherz). FIG. 3 is an
idealized approximation of the actual (.nu..sub.3 +.nu..sub.4 +.nu..sub.6)
absorption band of UF.sub.6, but is sufficient to indicate the major
features of importance.
As shown in FIG. 3, curve A represents the absorption spectrum in the
vicinity of 960 cm.sup.-1 for I.sup.238 F.sub.6 molecules, that are
present in the filter gas contained in the filter cell 58 or 58'. The
rovibrational band defined by curve a comprises the envelope of a
plurality of discrete rotational absorption lines which are spaced
approximately 0.0024 cm.sup.-1 apart and have a rotational line width of
about 0.0007 cm.sup.-1 at 0.005 atmospheres. The rotational line width
varies linearly with pressure if the temperature is approximately 300
degrees K, and at other pressures is given approximately by the formula
0.14 p cm.sup.-1, where p is the gas pressure in atmospheres, and where
the temperature is approximately 300 degrees K.
Curve B of FIG. 3 shows the same (.nu..sub.3 +.nu..sub.4 +.nu..sub.6)
rovibrational-combination-band absorption curve for U.sup.235 F.sub.6
molecules. This absorption curve B of the U.sup.235 F.sub.6 molecules,
which are present in the gas mixture contained in the reaction chamber 12
or 12', envelopes essentially the same series of rotational lines as those
covered under curve A, except that all lines are shifted in frequency by
approximately 0.49 cm.sup.-1. Also, the rotational line widths are a
little thicker, namely approximately 0.0014 cm.sup.-1 since the gas
mixture in the reaction chamber 12 or 12' is at a pressure of
approximately 0.01 atmospheres, which is about twice the pressure in the
filter cell. The spacing of the rotational lines under curve B is
substantially the same as the rotational line spacing under curve A.
The pressures given in this example are only illustrative and good
separation at other pressures may be obtained as well. The main
consideration in choosing an operating pressure is that the rotational
line widths are not too thick so that they substantially overlap. This
means that the value of the pressure, to which the rotational line widths
are approximately linearly proportional, must be chosen such that the
rotational line width does not substantially exceed the rotational line
spacing in the vibrational absorption bands.
The operating temperatures of the UF.sub.6 gas in the filter cell 58 and
58' and the reaction chamber 12 and 12' are chosen such that the UF.sub.6
remains in a gaseous state. In the illustrative example given, the
temperature of the U.sup.238 F.sub.6 in the filter cell was taken to be
290 degrees K which is approximately room temperature. This temperature is
high enough to maintain UF.sub.6 in a gaseous state if the pressure is
0.005 atmospheres. The temperature in the reaction chamber was assumed to
be about 300 degrees K which is a little higher than room temperature and
is due to the fact that some heat of reaction will be produced in the
reaction chamber. Again, the 300 degree K temperature is high enough to
maintain UF.sub.6 at 0.01 atmosphere in the gaseous phase. The other gases
in the reaction chamber, H.sub.2 and HF, also will remain gaseous at 300
degrees K. Of course any other temperatures instead of the ones used in
the above illustration may be employed provided favorable conditions for
isotope separation are maintained.
The laser 38 of FIG. 1 may be, for example, a CO.sub.2 laser which can
operate at a number of laser line frequencies spaced approximately 1.82
cm.sup.-1 apart, within the envelope shown by curve C of FIG. 3. The
center frequency of this envelope of possible laser lines is at
approximately 944 cm.sup.-1. Thus, as is clear in FIG. 3, the CO.sub.2
laser lines fall within the left wings of the rovibrational (.nu..sub.3
+.nu..sub.4 +.nu..sub.6) absorption bands of U.sup.235 F.sub.6 and
U.sup.238 F.sub.6. The line widths of the laser lines are extremely small
and on the order of 10.sup.-8 cm.sup.-1.
FIG. 4 shows an enlarged portion of FIG. 3, and as shown in FIG. 4, because
the pressure of the U.sup.238 F.sub.6 filter gas contained within the
filter cell 58 or 58' is half the pressure of the UF.sub.6 mixture
contained within the reaction chamber 12 or 12', the width of the
rotational absorption lines of the U.sup.238 F.sub.6 in the filter cell is
half the width of the rotational lines of the UF.sub.6 mixture. As noted
above, the center of each of the absorption lines of the U.sup.235 F.sub.6
in the reaction chamber are shifted approximately 0.49 cm.sup.-1 with
respect to the absorption lines for the U.sup.238 F.sub.6 molecules
contained within the filter cell. As a result of this isotope shift, the
U.sup.235 F.sub.6 spectrum is shifted by twenty-one lines compared to the
U.sup.238 F.sub.6 spectrum, if the line separation is constant and equal
to 0.024 cm.sup.-1. If the lines starting from the center of the bands to
the left are counted and numbered sequentially 1, 2, 3, 4, 5..., the 640th
line of the U.sup.238 F.sub.6 spectrum would be positioned just slightly
to the left of the 661st line in the U.sup.235 F.sub.6 spectrum, as shown
in FIG. 4 by about 0.0014 cm.sup.-1. The same applies to the 641 st line
of the U.sup.238 F.sub.6 and the 662nd line off U.sup.235 F.sub.6, etc.
The values for the isotope shift and the line spacing used in the above
illustration are only approximate, and at present cannot be measured to a
greater degree of accuracy. Further, the spacing of the lines is not
constant but actually varies slowly and in a regular way with the position
of each line, due to second-order effects. As a result, the rotational
lines of U.sup.235 F.sub.6 may fall between the rotational lines of
U.sup.238 F.sub.6 only in certain portions of the band and not over the
entire band. In other portions of the band the lines of U.sup.235 F.sub.6
and U.sup.238 F.sub.6 might coincide. The laser line selected for
excitation of only the U.sup.235 F.sub.6, and not the U.sup.238 F.sub.6,
must therefore be chosen to fall in a region of the band where the
rotational lines of U.sup.235 F.sub.6 and U.sup.238 F.sub.6 do not
coincide, but substantially fall between each other's absorption profiles.
Since most infrared lasers allow the lasing of some six to twenty lines
separated by intervals with a value typically in the range of 0.5 to 2.5
cm.sup.-1, it is generally possible to find a laser line which falls in a
region where the U.sup.235 F.sub.6 and U.sup.238 F.sub.6 lines do not
overlap and arc separated, as illustrated in FIG. 4.
For example, the CO.sub.2 laser can be lased at all, several, or one of
fourteen CO.sub.2 rotational line frequencies between 928 and 954
cm.sup.-1, spaced approximately 1.86 cm.sup.-1 apart shown schematically
as curve C in FIG. 3. The laser lines themselves are extremely
monochromatic and have widths estimated to be less than 10.sup.-8
cm.sup.-1. At any one of the fourteen CO.sub.2 rotational line frequencies
between 928 and 954 cm.sup.-1, say at 944 cm.sup.-1, the laser line
frequency can be fine-tuned and shifted towards a higher or lower
frequency within the CO.sub.2 amounts to approximately 0.008 cm.sup.-1.
Thus the laser line frequency at 944 cm.sup.-1 can be varied between
943.996 and 944.004 cm.sup.-1 by fine-tuning which, as mentioned before,
is achieved by small changes in the end mirror spacing of the laser
resonator system.
The suppression of those laser lines of the fourteen or so laser lines from
the CO.sub.2 laser that coincide with rotational absorption lines of
U.sup.238 F.sub.6 is accomplished by the filter cell 58 or 58' and only
those lines are allowed in the photon beam 18 that fall between the
rotational absorption lines of U.sup.238 F.sub.6, as shown by curve D in
FIG. 3, and shown for one laser line in FIG. 4. To cause the filtered
laser line frequencies in the photon beam 18 to coincide with the
U.sup.235 F.sub.6 rotational line peaks, or to make them fall at
frequencies as close to these peaks as possible, is achieved by the
fine-tuning described before. If satisfactory matching cannot be achieved
by this procedure, further improvements in matching may be obtained by
increasing the gas mixture pressure in the reaction chamber which would
broaden the frequency width of the rotational lines of the U.sup.235
F.sub.6 and thereby eventually cover the laser line frequency such as the
one shown in FIG. 4.
Since the filtered beam of photons 18 is substantially free of photons
having energies at the frequencies associated with the rotational energy
absorption lines of the U.sup.238 F.sub.6, only the U.sup.235 F.sub.6
molecules absorb energy by interaction with the photons in the reaction
chamber 12 or 12' and are raised to an upper rovibrational energy level.
At the upper rovibrational energy level, as noted above, the U.sup.235
F.sub.6 molecules react with the gaseous hydrogen contained within the
reaction chamber 12 to provide a chemical reaction product of U.sup.235
F.sub.4.
It has been found that, in practice, there will be some contamination in
the chemical product produced. That is, there will be a certain amount of
U.sup.238 F.sub.6 molecules that will be raised to the upper rovibrational
energy level and react with the hydrogen. This would produce U.sup.238
F.sub.4 molecules, which, of course, are also a solid precipitate which
would contaminate the U.sup.235 F.sub.4 precipitate. Such unwanted
reactions may occur due to imperfect filtering of the laser output beam of
photons 18, but is most likely due to energy transfer exchange collisions
of the excited U.sup.235 F.sub.6 molecules with the U.sup.238 F.sub.6
molecules causing a transition of the U.sup.238 F.sub.6 molecules from the
lower rovibrational energy level to the upper rovibrational energy level.
In addition to the (.nu..sub.3 +.nu..sub.4 +.nu..sub.6) rovibrational band
with a center frequency of approximately 960 cm.sup.-1, there exists for
uranium hexafluoride, other rovibrational bands centered at other
frequencies, which require the use of other laser frequencies from those
lasers which are near these band frequencies.
FIG. 5 shows another such band frequency and laser frequency, namely the
(.nu..sub.2 +.nu..sub.4) rovibrational combination band of UF.sub.6 with a
center frequency of approximately 1163 cm.sup.-1, and the 1190 cm.sup.-1
laser radiation from the carbon-oxy-sulphide (OCS) laser. Again, the
structure of the band shown in FIG. 5 is an idealized approximation of the
actual band but it serves to illustrate all features that are pertinent.
Curve A of FIG. 5 shows the (.nu..sub.2 +.nu..sub.4) band enveloping the
rotational absorption lines of the (.nu..sub.2 +.nu..sub.4) band of
U.sup.238 F.sub.6, while curve B of FIG. 5 envelopes the rotational lines
of the (.nu..sub.2 +.nu..sub.4) band of U.sup.235 F.sub.6, which is again
shifted approximately 0.49 cm.sup.-1 in frequency from curve A in FIG. 5.
Curves C and D of FIG. 5 indicate, similarly to curves C and D in FIG. 3,
the possible laser lines of OCS before (curve C) and after (curve D)
filtering through filter cell 58 or 58' Table I below shows several
additional UF.sub.6 rovibrational absorption band center frequencies and
laser frequencies closest to them, available from presently known lasers.
The frequency mismatch between the laser frequency and the band center
frequency determines where the center of the laser output photon
frequencies occur with respect to the center of the rovibrational energy
absorption band. Some of the laser frequencies listed in Table I are
"doubled" frequencies which can be obtained by adding a frequency doubler
46 inside a laser resonator system as described before. The natural
frequency of the laser is also listed in these cases, as seen in Table I.
The double frequency provides the desired laser photon frequency for
utilization with the UF.sub.6. Of course, the lasers may be operated
either continuously or they may be pulsed.
A table similar to Table I can be prepared or they may be pulsed. vibronic
energy level changes. The laser, in such a case, must be selected to
provide, ultimately, a photon frequency corresponding to the desired
vibronic energy level changes.
In addition to the CO.sub.2, OCS, H.sub.2 O, HF, and UF.sub.6 lasers shown
in Table I, such lasers as DF, CO, NO, HCl, CS.sub.2, H.sub.2 S, SO.sub.2,
HCN, N.sub.2 O, NH.sub.3, BC.sub.3 and other molecular lasers as well as
argon ion, krypton ion, xenon ion, and other lasers, for example, may also
be utilized. The particular photon frequency output, either undoubled or
doubled, of each of these lasers may be utilized either directly to
provide the selective excitation of the predetermined isotope molecule
contained within the reaction chamber 12 or 12', or indirectly after
frequency conversion by means of the conversion crystal 72 and idler
radiation source 74. The selection of the particular laser and the
particular frequency line or lines of that laser will, of course, depend
upon the photon-inducible rovibrational or vibronic energy transitions of
the mixture of chemically identical but isotopically different molecules
contained within the reaction chamber 12 or 12'. Similarly, the filter gas
or material will also be selected to remove the photons associated with
the energy absorption of the other chemically identical but isotopically
different molecules so that the beam of filtered photons is substantially
pure in just the photons having energy in the frequencies corresponding to
the transitions of the predetermined isotopic molecules.
TABLE I
__________________________________________________________________________
CENTER OF LASER
CENTRAL FREQUENCY
OUTPUT OF UF.sub.6 ROVIBRATIONAL
FREQUENCY
TYPE PHOTON FREQUENCY
BAND MISMATCH
LASER (cm.sup.-1) (cm.sup.-1) (cm.sup.-1)
__________________________________________________________________________
CO.sub.2 944.15
959 15
(.nu..sub.3 + .nu..sub.4 + .nu..sub.6)
H.sub.2 O
Natural
302.76
623 18
Doubled
605.52
(.nu..sub.4)
H.sub.2 O
Natural
357.51
674 31
Doubled
705.02
(.nu..sub.2 + .nu..sub.6)
HF 692 674 18
(5% H.sub.2 - (.nu..sub.2 + .nu..sub.6)
-95% CF.sub.4)
OCS 1190 1163 27
(.nu..sub.2 + .nu..sub.4)
UF.sub.6 190 200 (.nu..sub.3)
10
613 623 (.nu..sub.4)
10
665 675 (.nu..sub.2 + .nu..sub.6)
10
705 716 (.nu..sub.2 + .nu..sub.3)
10
805 825 (.nu..sub.4 + .nu..sub.5)
10
840 850 (.nu..sub.1 + .nu..sub.3)
10
1153 1163 (.nu..sub.2 + .nu..sub.4)
10
1285 1295 (.nu..sub.1 + .nu..sub.4)
10
2043 2053 (2.nu..sub.1 + .nu..sub.3)
10
__________________________________________________________________________
As noted above to produce an enrichment of U.sup.235 much greater than that
naturally occuring in uranium is one of the major applications for
utilization of the present invention. However, the invention is not
limited to the utilization of uranium hexafluoride as the mixture of
chemically identical but isotopically different molecules. Rather, many
other uranium compounds may be utilized advantageously to provide the
enriched U.sup.235. In general, it has been found to be advantageous to
work with uranium containing molecules in which all the atomic species
except uranium are mono-isotopic. Mono-isotopic elements, of course, are
those in which only one stable isotope exists in nature. Thus, the
isotopic differences will be provided by the different isotopes of
uranium, namely the U.sup.235 and U.sup.238. Further, it is generally
advantageous to have a uranium-bearing molecular compound with a low
melting point and a low boiling point so that it may be maintained as a
fluid, that is, in the liquid or gaseous state with the possibility of
obtaining the reaction product in a different physical state such as the
solid state to facilitate final separation. Low operating temperatures are
desired because of the broadening of the spectral absorption bands as
noted above.
Further, in order to obtain large isotope shifts in the frequency of the
photon absorption bands between the U.sup.235 containing molecules and the
U.sup.238 containing molecules, it has been found that the combined mass
of the other atoms contained within the molecules should be as high as
possible. Accordingly, in addition to UF.sub.6, it has been found that,
for example, the molecules of UI.sub.4, UI.sub.3, UI.sub.2 F.sub.2,
UIF.sub.3, U.sub.2 As, UAs, UAs.sub.2, UBI, UAl.sub.2, UMn.sub.2, UP,
U.sub.2 P, and UP.sub.2 are also molecules that may be advantageously
utilized in the practice of the present invention to separate the
U.sup.235 containing molecules from the U.sup.238 containing molecules.
Additionally, other elements besides uranium may equally well be utilized
in the practice of the present invention to provide a separation of one or
more of a predetermined isotopic molecule from a mixture of chemically
identical but isotopically different molecules. For example, Table II
lists the element, the molecule and the isotopes thereof that may be
separated to provide an enrichment of that isotope according to the
principles of the present invention.
TABLE II
______________________________________
ELEMENT MOLECULE ISOTOPES
______________________________________
Chlorine (Cl)
ClF; ClF.sub.3 ; Cl.sub.2 O.sub.7
Cl-35
Cl-37
Copper (Cu) CuI; CuN.sub.3
Cu-63
Cu-65
Gallium (Ga)
GaI.sub.3 ; GaCl.sub.3
Ga-69
Ga-71
Bromine (Br)
BrF; BrF.sub.3 ; BrF.sub.5
Br-79
Br-81
Silver (Ag) AgN.sub.3 Ag-107
Ag-109
Antimony (Sb)
SbF.sub.3 ; SbF.sub.5 ; SbH.sub.3
Sb-121
Sb-123
Lanthanium (La)
LaI.sub.3 ; LaF.sub.3
La-138
La-139
Europium (Eu)
EuI.sub.2 Eu-151
Eu-153
Rhenium (Re)
ReF.sub.6 Re-185
Re-187
Iridium (Ir)
IrF.sub.6 Ir-191
Ir-193
Thallium (Tl)
TlF; TlNO.sub.3
Tl-203
Tl-205
Plutonium (Pu)
PuF.sub.6 Pu-236; Pu-238; Pu-239
Pu-240; Pu-241; Pu-242
______________________________________
Although hydrogen (H.sub.2) was used in the example given above as the
chemically reactive agent to provide a chemical reaction with UF.sub.6,
H.sub.2 may also be used as the chemically reactive agent with halide
gases of elements other than uranium, as shown in Table II. Additionally,
many other chemically reactive gases may also be utilized. For example
HCl, HBr, HI, I.sub.2, Cl.sub.2, Br.sub.2, NH.sub.3, CH.sub.4, and various
gaseous hydrocarbons may be used in place of H.sub.2 in embodiments
employing gaseous halide compounds, of the isotopes to be separated, such
as those shown in Table II. Both the particular chemically reactive agent,
as well as the particular halide compound with which it must significantly
react when the halide compound is in the excited state, determines the
pressure and temperature at which the halide compound and chemically
reactive agent are mixed in the reaction chamber 12 or 12'. The pressure
and temperature of the mixture in chamber 12 or 12' is selected to provide
virtually no chemical reaction between the halide compound and the
reactive agent in the initial mixture state, and the reaction occurs only
after the halide compound is excited by laser irradiation. Thus, in
selecting particular combinations of isotopic compounds and reactive
agents, detailed chemical reaction kinetics parameters must be known for
the pairs of reactants in order to determine optimum mixing pressures and
temperates.
In the examples given heretofore, pure rovibrational excitations of
UF.sub.6 and other isotopic compounds were primarily considered. Examples
of a vibronic excitation of UF.sub.6, that is, an excitation in which
there is both a change in the electronic state as well as in the
vibrational state, are the UF.sub.6 vibronic absorption bands centered at
a frequency of approximately 27,410 cm.sup.-1, 27,490 cm.sup.-1, and
28,415 cm.sup.-1, in the near-ultraviolet. Lasers with outputs in these
bands are the Xenon-Ion Laser emitting a frequency of 27,400 cm.sup.-1,
and the Argon-Ion Laser emitting at a frequency of 27,485 cm.sup.-1 and a
frequency of 28,465 cm.sup.-1. Similarly, the Krypton-Ion Laser emissions
at a frequency of 28,480 cm.sup.-1 and 28,000 cm.sup.-1 may also be
employed in connection with the excitation of the UF.sub.6 vibronic
absorption bands centered around 28,415 cm.sup.-1 and 28,080 cm.sup.-1.
For other isotopic halide compounds such as for example UI.sub.4,
PuF.sub.6, GaI.sub.3, or the like, as shown in Table II, there are
vibronic absorption bands at other frequencies, and other appropriate
laser lines falling in these bands to excite the halide compounds must be
selected. Selective filtering of the laser emissions and fine-tuning of
the laser frequency to remove or suppress undesirable frequencies, and to
excite only the halide compound containing the preselected isotope, is
achieved as described above. Similarly, H.sub.2 or other suitable reactive
gases, as described above, may be utilized to achieve the desired chemical
reaction with the selectively excited isotopic compound.
From the above, it can be seen that the present invention contemplates not
only an improved process for effecting an enrichment of a predetermined
isotope to a degree far greater than that found in a naturally occurring
element, but also an improved structure for practicing the process. Those
skilled in the art may find many variations and adaptations thereof and
all such variations and adaptations falling within the true scope and
spirit of the present invention are intended to be covered by the appended
claims.
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